Ah, the big day you’ve been dreaming of is almost here—high school! As the day gets closer and closer, you may be wondering how you can best prepare for the new world you’re about to experience. Not to worry. There are plenty of things you can do to get ready for high school. To make it easy for you, we’ve put together a handy list of helpful suggestions you can use to make sure you’re fully prepared.

1

Take a tour of your school if you can.

  1. Get a lay of the land before your first day. Find out if your high school offers or allows incoming students to take a tour of the grounds. If they do, go for it! You’ll get a chance to check out the classrooms, cafeteria, gym, and all of the hallways so you won’t feel so lost on your first day.[1]
    • There may be a scheduled tour date that you can sign up for to check out your school.
    • Some high schools hold an orientation for incoming freshmen just before or right after school starts. Make sure you go to your orientation so you can find out more about your classes and any specific rules you need to follow and be aware of at your school.[2]
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3

Add some fun elective classes to your schedule.

4

Check out your school’s clubs and sports teams.

5

Buy the proper school supplies.

  1. Use your supply list and choose things that you like when you can. Most high schools provide a list of specific items that you’ll need for your first day. Be sure to get everything on the list so you’re fully prepared.[6]
    • For instance, you’ll need items such as a backpack, lunch bag (if you’re bringing your own lunch), pens, pencils, loose-leaf paper, notebooks, folders, highlighters, erasers, and a ruler. You may also need a calculator and a binder.
    • Just because you have to get certain items, it doesn’t mean you can’t choose ones that you like and reflect your personality. For example, you can choose folders with cool designs on them and pens that you really like to use.
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7

Set up a working space at home.

  1. Prepare an environment that will help you get your work done. Clear off a desk and set up supplies such as pens and paper. Keep the area organized and ready for you to use it so you can knock out any homework or assignments and resist the urge the procrastinate.[8]
    • You could even put up some posters and play some music in your work area to make it a more welcoming environment.
    • Find a quiet place within or near your home.[9]
    • Turn off your tv and computer screens when you’re working so you can focus so and studying will become easier.[10]
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9

Create a nightly routine that allows for plenty of sleep.

  1. Prepare everything you’ll need and go to bed on time. Check the weather the night before to help you choose an outfit and then lay out your clothes so you can get dressed quickly and easily in the morning. Pack your backpack and gather any supplies that you’ll need for the next day and make sure you charge your phone or any devices you’ll need. Set your alarm for the morning and go to bed at a time that allows you to get at least 8 hours of sleep so you’ll wake up refreshed and ready to take on the day.[13]
    • The more consistent you are with your routine, the easier it’ll be to stick to it.
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About This Article

Jai Flicker
Co-authored by:
Academic Tutor
This article was co-authored by Jai Flicker. Jai Flicker is an Academic Tutor and the CEO and Founder of Lifeworks Learning Center, a San Francisco Bay Area-based business focused on providing tutoring, parental support, test preparation, college essay writing help, and psychoeducational evaluations to help students transform their attitude toward learning. Jai has over 20 years of experience in the education management industry. He holds a BA in Philosophy from the University of California, San Diego. This article has been viewed 70,939 times.
39 votes - 76%
Co-authors: 24
Updated: December 7, 2022
Views: 70,939
Categories: Surviving High School
Article SummaryX

To get ready for high school, visit your school early if possible so you can get an idea of where your classes and locker are without the stress of everyone else being around. During summer activities and orientation, chat with other freshmen since they may end up being your classmates, and it’ll be nice to have some friendly faces to recognize. Before your classes start, try and set a healthy routine of at least 8 hours of sleep and a healthy diet of three meals a day so you'll have the right mood and energy to be successful. You can also grab a planner and set up your desk at home with all the supplies you might need so you’re already ready to go when you get your first assignments. For more tips, including how to strengthen your critical thinking and mathematical skills before high school, scroll down!

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